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May 24th, Eritrean Independence Day

After a long and ardent political and armed struggle, the Eritrean people were able to defeat the enemy and claim their nationhood in 1991. The country was officially recognized by and formally admitted into the United Nations in 1993. The sacrifices that were paid by students and workers in the forties and fifties and by the whole Eritrean population since the official launch of the armed struggle in 1961 is enormous. The heroism demonstrated by many brave daughters and sons of the country such as Awate and Alem Mesfin will continue to fascinate generations to come. All Eritreans of all walks of life and of all political orientation and conviction cherish the independence that was attained at the cost of the blood of our heroes. It is a day that reminds us that our martyrs fell for a just cause and their sacrifice was not in vein. It is a day of our pride and a day of paying tribute to our fallen heroes. It indeed should be a day of happiness and celebration. We believe that every one would agree that it should, but the debate remains whether it has been a day on which Eritreans celebrate with happiness.

The opinion to voice to the above debate can definitely vary depending on the political belief of the one who is answering the question. We already know that the opposition believes that the people are in torture, hunger and oppression. That variance in opinion in perspective is normal in a political world where opposing parties are assessing the state of their nation. It is given that an opposition points out weaknesses of the ruling party. However, Eritrean situation is abnormal with abnormal set of circumstances where logic and rational deduction do not serve their normal purpose. Our answer to the question we asked earlier is that Eritreans are proud of their achievement of their independence and so May 24 remains to be a day of their pride but not a day of happiness or celebration. Our Eritrean readers, mainly those who are not in the opposition camp, through the wisdom they learned from our elders, will definitely ask why not? and we will attempt to answer with facts and realities as our wise elders would do.

It may be helpful to first look at the two terminologies. Both of them have social, economic and political attributes to them. We are also mindful that there is no perfect mathematical way of measuring them and therefore we do not attach any absolutism to our analysis. Happiness is a phenomenon that comes from an inner feeling of one's daily life. In a political context, it is closely associated with liberty. It has every thing to do with how free one is to express her/himself without fear of revenge and repercussions from authorities. Happiness has a lot to do with economic freedom and independence. Economic independence not necessarily riches, and freedom are two important ingredients to happiness to any society. Happiness is an expression when one is at peace within self and surrounding. It is a feeling where a prisoner comes out of jail deemed innocent and lifts up his two hands and says, "Free at last". Celebration has many of the elements of happiness. However, it is closely associated with achievement of a goal. In politics the celebration can be a Martyrs' Day, Independence Day and other significant achievements where people know they paid so much in material and life but celebrate the goal that was attained and commemorate their heroes. Now, that we have briefly defined the two terms; lets go back as to why we believe May 24th has not been a day of happiness or celebration for Eritreans.

The people are not free. Liberty is ringing its bells too far for the Eritrean people to hear it. There is no freedom of expression. There is no justice. There is no economic freedom or independence. There is no peace. There are fear, torture, unjust killings and imprisonments. We see all the ingredients of sadness and none of happiness.
The goal for which the Eritrean people struggled has not been achieved: The correct assessment is rather that the ruling party of PFDJ has betrayed the goal. The pursuit of happiness has been diverted to black hole of misery of our people. Equality, prosperity, liberty, freedom of expression, economic opportunity, freedom of religion, social equality and justice are nowhere to be found in our country. So, the Eritrean people are proud of their independence but do not have the right reasons to celebrate the Independence Day when seen in light of freedom and liberty. The goal for which our heroes fell was liberty in its full political context. To the contrary, Eritrea has become a country where its citizens do not have any say in the affairs of their own nation.
The opposition has been in chaos: We can write books after books, and articles on top of articles, about the misery and the suffering of our people at the hands of PFDJ dictatorship. It is a little comfort for our people when the opposition does not get its act together and take the necessary steps that would give a ray of hope to the people we write and talk so much about. Another big reason that clouds the celebration on this particular date of 2004 is the inability of the opposition to come together in some kind of united front. It has been inward looking lacking cooperation to salvage the country without the courage and vision to overcome the grudges among the individuals and organizations to do the right thing.

There is a reason why the people have not sided with the opposition despite all the evil deeds by PFDJ. In our opinion, the main points can be summed up as the following:

Suspicion: The Eritrean people still look at the opposition with suspicion on issues of sovereignty. Many cite the opposition stand on the border demarcation to make their point.

Background: PFDJ had told the Eritrean people that relationship between the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia was so strong that in Isayas’s own message, the boundary between the two nations will be meaningless and would forge a confederated strategy. Now, PFDJ tells that all the problems of Eritrea and all the shortcomings of the government are caused by enemy No. 1 “the Woyane” referring to the current Ethiopian government. With this experience under their belt, the Eritrean people see any cozy relationship with Ethiopia with suspicion. The deportation of many Eriteans in the last war in very inhumane way by the Ethiopian government is a very recent memory that the people have not forgotten.

Some in the opposition have not been able to endorse or call for the implementation of the demarcation despite the solid stand of the world behind the ruling. This leaves the Eritrean people with the impression that the opposition does not have the backbone to standup to what is good for Eritrea. The war was wrong. The demarcation, even though it unfortunately is being ruled after the war is good for the mutual trust of the people of the two countries. Telling the Eritrean people to abandon what has been ruled at The Hague for the trust and good will of the Ethiopian government after the change of government in Eritrea does not help to win their minds and hearts. The suspicion of the Eritrean people cannot be alleviated until such time the opposition has unwavering stand on issues of national and sovereignty matters. Implementing the demarcation enhances good neighborly relationship and the trust between the two people while lack of progress in the implementation deepens the suspicion between the two people. As we have said repeatedly border issue is an issue of the people not Isayas’.

Reliability: The Eritrean people have not trusted the opposition to work together overcoming their bitterness to form a united front to stand against PFDJ.

ELF-RC has called for the formation of united front based on minimum points despite differences to be able to work together to salvage the country. Even though, it is receiving acceptance, it is high time it is implemented and the right moment to move towards practical coordination and joint statements.

Skepticism: The people have not been convinced that the opposition will keep its promise and therefore will not be betray them as PFDJ did.

PFDJ promised a lot of things to the Eritrean people and to the world. Democracy, prosperity, freedom were to be the norm in the country. It was supposed to be the model for the rest of Africa. The people know what they have at hand is terror and horror instead of what they were promised. Abiding by the democratic principle of majority wins, proportional representation respect of rule of law has need to followed in practice. They will remain skeptic until the opposition camp shows them verifiable steps that it will transfer power to the people. Seeing is believing, and so the opposition camp has to show that it practices what it preaches. Splitting and multiplication of organizations needs to stop.

Conclusion: ELF-RC News and Cultural Office has issued editorials about May 24, 2004 in Arabic and Tigrinia that we forwarded to the main Eritrean websites. In the editorial, the expectations of our people and that of the world are outlined. The results so far and the danger looming over our people and our zone are articulated. The false slogan of “elections” by PFDJ is exposed. A way forward for the opposition by forming a broad united front is articulated.

The opposition needs to redeem its credibility with the Eritrean people first and foremost and with that of the world second. It has to show the world that the elections taking place Eritrea are purely for consumption in an attempt to repair its shattered image. It is high time that the opposition formed a united front and start working together in a convincing practical way. The opposition has to show unwavering stand on national matters like the border demarcation and avoid the appearance that it compromises national sovereignty. They need to work in a structure that reflects proportional representation and have to start to show democratic principles and rule of law will prevail and the people have to see it to believe it. This has to be done sooner rather than later.